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	Photo by Associated Press Investigators and officials work at the scene of a rush-hour crash between two Metro transit trains June 23 in northeast Washington. Purchase this photo

The internal reports were obtained and first published by The Frederick News-Post in the aftermath of the June 22 Metro train crash that killed nine people. Metro computers allowing internal employee access to those reports have now been locked down with password protection.

Before the unannounced change, workers in maintenance yards and train control rooms across the system had free access to those reports, which were used to identify and troubleshoot track problems -- such as the bobbing circuits that are thought to have caused the deadly crash.

Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel confirmed Tuesday that "on or about July 3, there were some password changes to certain computer applications."

He said he did not know if the change had anything to do with documents leaked to the media.

On June 25, The News-Post received copies of internal Metro documents that showed a track impedance bond -- part of the track signaling device -- had been malfunctioning after it was installed June 17, five days before the fatal crash.

Two Metro sources who requested anonymity discovered on July 3 that they could no longer access the records. After The News-Post published documents from Metro's system log on June 26, national media outlets followed suit with articles and news broadcasts beginning July 2. The sources think Metro locked down the computers the next day to prevent further media leaks.

"This makes it look like Metro is more concerned with damage control and stopping leaks than they are safety," one source said. "They thought the leak made them look bad, but this makes them look worse."

The employees are concerned that blocking access for lower-level employees will only increase the likelihood that another catastrophe could occur.

"It's not like we access those records every day," the source said. "But we do use them as a tool, and it's important to have access to them."

Metro employees use the Rail Operations Control System computer program, known as ROCS, to look at records, file work orders and sign off on completed work orders.

On Tuesday, Anthony Garland, recording secretary of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, which represents Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority workers, said the union is aware workers were recently locked out of the computer system.

"Our members have said that, and the union is concerned about that," he said.

Union officials are working to "put the work force and membership at ease" that they have everything they need to run the train system safely for passengers and employees, Garland said.

On Friday, Taubenkibel said any Metro employee who works in the central control room has access to the records and can input and receive information as needed.

Without knowing where employees work, Taubenkibel said he couldn't comment on their access or lack thereof.

The central control room is in downtown Washington. Technicians, mechanics and other maintenance workers charged with keeping the tracks and cars well-maintained and in safe working condition work in yards across the system.

"From time to time, passwords and access change," Taubenkibel said Tuesday. "It's done to protect the integrity of that information."

When a problem arises now, central control room employees will contact the personnel with the appropriate skills and expertise by phone, e-mail or other forms of correspondence to respond to the situation, the spokesman said.

Union officer Garland said the union is aware of and concerned about many safety issues at WMATA. Union officials have submitted a list of about 50 Metro track and train safety issues to WMATA's administration, he said.

He said the union is working with WMATA to immediately address safety concerns.

"Some we are working on to fix before the (National Transportation Safety Board) report comes out," he said.

At the union's suggestion, the 1000-series cars -- some of which were in the June 22 crash and which have a tendency to climb on top of another car in a crash -- are placed in the middle of trains with stronger-built cars in front and in back of them. All trains are being operated in manual mode instead of by the automatic controls, also at the suggestion of union members, Garland said.

"There are some serious issues out there, I can tell you that," he said. "But we're working in-house to resolve these issues. We don't want to project the image in the media that we're arguing or fighting with WMATA -- we want to work with them."